INSTITUTING A FRIENDS OF THE ARTS PROGRAM

The Friends of the Arts Program is designed to nurture creativity, celebrate artistic expression, and strengthen the impact of the arts in our community. This initiative brings together students, families, alumni, faculty, and friends who believe in the power of the arts to inspire, connect, and transform.

Bringing This Mission to Life:

Connection: We will create opportunities for our community to experience the arts together: from theatre productions and concerts to gallery events and student showcases. These moments allow families, alumni, faculty, and staff to support our Cadets and enjoy the incredible work they produce.

Celebration: We will highlight the achievements of our student and alumni artists through recognition, storytelling, and spotlights in our newsletters, social media, and school publications. Their creativity deserves to be seen and celebrated.

Service: We will welcome alumni back as mentors, volunteers, and guides for our young artists. We also encourage current Cadets to serve as leaders within the fine arts, fostering a spirit of giving and collaboration.

Philanthropy: We will invite our community to support Fine Arts Scholarships and the Annual Appeal (tuition assistance), helping ensure that every student has access to the transformative experiences the arts 
provide.

What’s Ahead as the Program Grows

• The launch of a Student Arts Council and an Alumni Arts Directory.
• Backstage Talks and Workshops led by alumni working in the arts.
• Partnerships with local galleries, theatres, and arts organizations.
• Continued expansion of fine arts opportunities both within and beyond our school community.

Where We Stand Today:

• More than 180 students participate in art classes each semester.
• There are more than 100 students in our ever-expanding music program directed by Mr. Brian Miller (just six years ago, this program had less than 30 students). 
• The Fine Arts Program produces two showcases per year for our families.
• Drama Club remains the largest club on campus, with more than 100 students taking part in cast, crew, stage management, lighting, concessions, and set design.
• The Drama Club produces two shows per year - a fall play and spring musical. 
• St. Joseph High School currently offers the opportunity for students to be inducted into the National Art, Music, and Thespian Honor Societies. 

 

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: BRIAN REILLY ’13

Brian Reilly runs film production company, KT Pictures, which is in the process of releasing their next feature film, Watching Mr. Pearson, in select theaters. Watching Mr. Pearson is about a once-famous actor slipping into the fog of dementia. The film follows his attempt to reconnect with the world through performance and the friendships he makes with his caretakers.
 
Brian balances his career as a marketing director with building KT Pictures, the production company he co-founded in 2021 with his lifelong friend, Dillon Bentlage. The two have known each other since birth thanks to a friendship their mothers shared long before they were born.

“KT” stands for “Karen Twins,” a nod to their mothers, both named Karen. Dillon’s mother and Brian’s mother, Karen Dunford Reilly ’75, were lifelong friends, and although Brian’s mother has since passed away, her spirit remains central to the company’s mission. KT Pictures is, at its heart, a tribute to family, friendship, and legacy.
 
Thus far, Brian and Dillon have made two original feature films, one co-produced feature film, eight short films, and a six-part international web series. Many of their projects have been screened and won awards at film festivals, including SXSW, Dances with Films, and Nashville Film Festival. They recently attended this year’s SXSW festival for the world premiere of their feature film, Imposters, directed by notable indie horror filmmaker Caleb Phillips.

Brian loves being part of a project from the first spark of an idea until its release. He treasures the moment when he can say, “I helped make this film, and now you can watch it. I hope you enjoy.”

His passion for filmmaking came while at SJ in his Film & Lit class with Mrs. Broderick. There, he discovered a love for collaboration and the fundamentals of filmmaking. 

Brian’s advice: “Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and carve your own path, don’t follow what everyone else thinks you should do.” 

 

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: MARCELLE MORRISEY ’12

From Cadet to Musical Director! This Spring, Marcelle Morrisey is returning to the halls of St. Joes, this time not as a student on stage, but as the Director for our spring production of The Music Man. 

Twenty years ago, Marcelle stood under the stage lights in the very same show as a middle school student. Now, she’ll be guiding a new generation of ambitious young performers from just off-stage, a full circle moment that feels nothing short of magical.

The oldest of six siblings and the granddaughter of the late, legendary SJ basketball coach, Vito Montelli, Marcelle carries a family legacy that is woven deeply into the fabric of our school. You can’t walk through the halls without hearing someone share a story about the impact her grandfather had on shaping the spirit of this community. Marcelle remembers stopping by his office as a student, stealing a few minutes to visit him between classes; small moments that still mean everything to her.

Though she grew up in a big sports family, Marcelle has always been a theatre kid at heart. Her family supported her completely, cheering her on from the audience as she discovered her passion on the SJ stage. She recalls the joy of those productions - the friendships, the laughter, the thrill of performing - and says she loved every minute.

That passion led her to pursue a degree in theatre education, and she began directing musicals as soon as she could. Since then, Marcelle has built an extraordinary career teaching musical theatre from Pre-K through 12th grade, directing shows across multiple schools, and running theatre camps at Fairfield Center Stage. Her dedication to young performers is unmistakable.

Marcelle’s love for SJ has never faded, and pairing that devotion with her passion for theatre education makes her a remarkable addition to our team. We are thrilled to welcome her home and cannot wait to see our students bring The Music Man to life under her direction this April 30th, May 1st, and May 2nd. See you there!

 

FORMER FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: CYNTHIA RICHTER

Cindy recalls that she was very fortunate to know from a young age that she wanted to become an art teacher. First,  at Endicott College, and later, at Skidmore College, she enrolled in a variety of art classes to enhance her academic experience, eventually realizing that that the more disciplines she could teach, the better a teacher she could become. She then brought her experiences and passion for art to SJ as a teacher for more than 30 years.

Upon graduation, she was a proficient instructor in the mediums of jewelry design, pottery, drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and enameling. Additionally, her summer employment as a YMCA Craft Shop Director provided the opportunity to develop her skills even further. Cindy taught art in various boarding schools for nine years before landing and staying at St. Joes for 32 years. 

We recently asked Cindy what her favorite memory was at SJ. “It was having the opportunity to develop a strong art curriculum that resulted in student creativity and success.” Some notable new courses under Cindy’s direction were multi-level drawing, painting, art appreciation, and art history. During her tenure, the O’Keefe Media Center was also built and allowed for the creation of a renovated art studio and featured a new pottery program. Cindy also hosted art programs for parents in the evenings. 

Cindy offers this advice to current Cadets who wish to pursue art as a career. “Do what makes you happy. Life isn’t all about financial gain, it is about gaining joy from what you do every day. Diversify your portfolio and secure a job. Keep in mind that the first one may not be a forever one. Be willing to grow and to learn.”

To this day, Cindy remains a steadfast supporter of St. Joseph High School and has committed her time and resources to support the expansion of our art program through our Onward, With Purpose capital campaign.

 

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: ROB COTTO ’00

Rob Cotto recently produced the documentary Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, which premiered at The Tribeca Festival and then aired on HBO. The film was nominated for a Grammy for Best Music Film. 

After being in the music industry for the last twenty years working as a Producer/Director of Artist Relations for Neil Sedaka, Rob shares that getting this recognition from The Recording Academy for this documentary was truly an honor. The film is a portrait of a true renaissance man and passionate activist, Steven Van Zandt, and chronicles the artist throughout his remarkable career while illuminating the influential and enduring legacy he continues to have as a fervent champion of rock ‘n’ roll and social justice. 

These days Rob holds a very busy and exciting schedule, working for Stevie Van Zandt’s Renegade Nation as part of the A&R Department at the independent record label, Wicked Cool Records. He is also a writer and producer for Little Steven’s Underground Garage at Sirius XM and is hosting his own weekly program on Friday nights called “Robbo At The Movies,” which explores the connection between rock and roll and the silver screen. 

Rob shares that his experience at St. Joes helped instill in him a strong work ethic and the responsibility that comes with doing good work. While at SJ, faculty member, Mr. Izzo supported his film writing. While taking his Journalism Class, Rob had a film review published in the Connecticut Post, and Mr. Izzo’s note to Rob in his yearbook was incredibly motivational. 

When asked what advice he would give his high school self, he shared, “Go after what you really want. Don’t give up. Things will get hard. But if you believe in yourself and what you want - you’ll get there.” 

His advice for current students: “when you go to college, go to class and take notes. Everything will be on the exam. There are no surprises. But, don’t rush the process. You will miss it when its over.”